Integrated implement downforce control systems, methods, and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A downforce controller for an agricultural implement having a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder is configured to be coupled to an agricultural row unit and an agricultural toolbar for transmitting a net downforce between the agricultural toolbar and the agricultural row unit. A first pressure in a first chamber of the cylinder and a second pressure in a second chamber of the cylinder have counteracting effects on the net downforce. A manifold coupled to the cylinder is in fluid communication with the first chamber. A pressure control valve coupled to the manifold is in fluid communication with the manifold and the first chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/951,362, filed Jul. 25, 2013 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/675,678, filed Jul. 25, 2012.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a downforce controller.

FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of the embodiment of the downforce controller of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the downforce controller of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a planter row unit incorporating the downforce controller of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a planter and a tractor drawing the planter row unit of FIG. 2A through a field.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an electronic control system for controlling one or more downforce controllers.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of a fluid control system for controlling multiple downforce controllers.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a downforce controller including a lift pressure control valve.

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of a fluid control system for controlling multiple downforce controllers.

FIG. 7 is a fluid schematic illustrating an embodiment of a manifold for controlling pressure delivered to a downforce controller.

DESCRIPTION Downforce Controller

Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an embodiment of a downforce controller 100. Referring to FIG. 1A, the downforce controller 100 includes a manifold 110 and a cylinder 130. The manifold 110 preferably includes a manifold body 102, a lift control conduit 120, and a cavity (not shown) sized to receive a down pressure control valve 140. The manifold body 102 preferably includes a supply passage 112, a return passage 114, and a lift control passage 116. Each passage 112, 114, 116 preferably includes a left fitting, a right fitting, and an aperture connecting the left and right fittings. Referring to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1C, the manifold body 110 preferably includes a control pressure diagnostic passage 118 and a down chamber connection passage 111.

The cylinder 130 includes a barrel 132, a rod 170, and a gland 138. The cylinder 130 is mounted to the manifold 110. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C, the barrel 132 is mounted to the manifold body 102. Referring to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1C, the gland 138 is mounted to a lower end of the barrel 132 and the rod 170 is slidably mounted within the gland 138. The rod 170 includes a piston 174 which separates an interior volume of the barrel 132 into a down chamber 136 and a lift chamber 134.

The down pressure control valve 140 is preferably a electro-hydraulic pressure reducing-relieving valve. The down pressure control valve 140 preferably includes a solenoid 142 having an electrical port 144. The down pressure control valve 140 preferably includes a flow control valve 150 having a supply port 152, a return port 154, and a control port 158 (FIG. 1C). The pressure control valve 140 is preferably a PDR08-P proportional pressure relief valve available from Hydac International GmbH in Sulzbach, Germany (“Hydac”). The down pressure control valve 140 is preferably mounted to the manifold body 102. The down pressure control valve 140 is preferably oriented substantially parallel with the cylinder 130.

Referring to FIG. 1C, the supply port 152 of the pressure control valve 140 is in fluid communication with the supply passage 112. The return port 154 is in fluid communication with the return passage 114. The control port 158 is in fluid communication with the control pressure diagnostic passage 118. The control pressure diagnostic passage 118 is in fluid communication with the down chamber connection passage 111. The down chamber connection passage 111 is in fluid communication with the down chamber 136. The control pressure diagnostic passage 118 and the down chamber connection passage 111 collectively comprise a passage placing the control port 158 in fluid communication with the down chamber 136. The conduit 120 places the lift control passage 116 in fluid communication with the lift chamber 134. The control pressure diagnostic passage 118 is preferably capped with a cap 119 which may be removed in order to place a gauge, transducer, or other pressure measurement device in fluid communication with the control port 158.

In operation, the flow control valve 150 establishes a control pressure at the control port 158 by selectively allowing flow between the control port 158, the supply port 152, and the return port 154 as is known in the art. The solenoid 142 changes an operating state of the down pressure control valve 140 (e.g., by imposing a force on a component of the flow control valve 150) to modify the control pressure as is known in the art. The control pressure set by the solenoid 142 preferably corresponds to a signal received at the electrical port 144.

Implement Installation and Operation

Turning to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an embodiment of the downforce controller 100 is illustrated installed on a planter 10 drawn by a tractor 5. The planter 10 includes a transversely extending toolbar 14 to which multiple row units 200 are mounted in transversely spaced relation.

For attachment purposes, the manifold body 102 of the downforce controller 100 includes a pin eye 182 (FIGS. 1A-1C) and the rod 170 includes a clevis 172. Referring to FIG. 2A, a controller attachment bracket 214 is mounted to the front bracket 212. The downforce controller 100 is pivotally connected to the controller attachment bracket 214 by an upper pin 215-1 extending through the pin eye 182. The downforce controller 100 is pivotally connected at a lower end to a parallel linkage 216 by a lower pin 215-2 extending through the clevis 172. A manifold 700 is preferably mounted to the toolbar 14.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2A, the parallel linkage 216 supports the row unit 200 from the toolbar 14, permitting each row unit to move vertically independently of the toolbar and the other spaced row units in order to accommodate changes in terrain or upon the row unit encountering a rock or other obstruction as the planter is drawn through the field. A ride quality sensor 364, preferably an accelerometer, is mounted to the row unit 200 and disposed to measure the vertical velocity and acceleration of the row unit 200. Each row unit 200 further includes a mounting bracket 220 to which is mounted a hopper support beam 222 and a subframe 224. The hopper support beam 222 supports a seed hopper 226 and a fertilizer hopper 228 as well as operably supporting a seed meter 230 and a seed tube 232. The subframe 224 operably supports a furrow opening assembly 234 and a furrow closing assembly 236.

In operation of the row unit 200, the furrow opening assembly 234 cuts a furrow 38 into the soil surface 40 as the planter 10 is drawn through the field. The seed hopper 226, which holds the seeds to be planted, communicates a constant supply of seeds 42 to the seed meter 230. The seed meter 230 of each row unit 200 is preferably selectively engaged to a drive 372 via a clutch 370 such that individual seeds 42 are metered and discharged into the seed tube 232 at regularly spaced intervals based on the seed population desired and the speed at which the planter is drawn through the field. The drive 372 and clutch 370 may be of the types disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/228,075, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. A seed sensor 360, preferably an optical sensor, is supported by the seed tube 232 and disposed to detect the presence of seeds 42 as they pass. The seed 42 drops from the end of the seed tube 232 into the furrow 38 and the seeds 42 are covered with soil by the closing wheel assembly 236.

The furrow opening assembly 234 preferably includes a pair of furrow opening disk blades 244 and a pair of gauge wheels 248 selectively vertically adjustable relative to the disk blades 244 by a depth adjusting mechanism 268. The depth adjusting mechanism 268 preferably pivots about a downforce sensor 362, which preferably comprises a pin instrumented with strain gauges for measuring the force exerted on the gauge wheels 248 by the soil 40. The downforce sensor 362 is preferably of the type disclosed in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/522,253, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. In other embodiments, the downforce sensor is of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,999, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The disk blades 244 are rotatably supported on a shank 254 depending from the subframe 224. Gauge wheel arms 260 pivotally support the gauge wheels 248 from the subframe 224. The gauge wheels 248 are rotatably mounted to the forwardly extending gauge wheel arms 260.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a GPS receiver 366 is preferably mounted to an upper portion of the tractor 5. A monitor 310 is preferably mounted in a cab 7 of the tractor 5. One or more speed sensors 368, such as a Hall-effect wheel speed sensor or a radar speed sensor, are preferably mounted to the tractor 5.

Electrical Control System

Turning to FIG. 3, an electrical control system 300 for controlling and measuring downforce and other implement functions is illustrated schematically. In the electrical control system, the monitor 310 is preferably in electrical communication with the down pressure control valves 140 and a lift pressure control valve 740 (described herein with respect to FIG. 7), as well as the drives 370 and the clutches 372. The monitor 310 is preferably in electrical communication with the downforce sensors 362 as well as the seed sensors 360, the downforce sensors 362, the speed sensors 368, and the GPS receiver 366.

The monitor 310 preferably includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) 316, a memory 314, and a graphical user interface (“GUI”) 312 allowing the user to view and enter data into the monitor. The monitor 310 is preferably of the type disclosed in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/292,384, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, such that the monitor is capable of displaying downforce and seeding information to the user.

Downforce Fluid Control System

Turning to FIG. 4, an embodiment of a fluid control system 400 is illustrated installed on four downforce controllers 100 (each installed on a respective row unit 200), the toolbar 14 and the tractor 5. The fluid control system includes a supply 430, preferably a power-beyond supply port located on the tractor 5, and a tank 440, preferably a power-beyond tank port (not shown) located on the tractor 5. The supply 430 and tank 440 are in fluid communication with the manifold 700.

Turning to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the manifold 700 is illustrated schematically. The manifold 700 includes a filter 710 (preferably model no. CP-SAE-120 available from Hydac), a check valve 720 (preferably model no. RV16A-01 available from Hydac), and the lift pressure control valve 740 (preferably an equivalent valve to the down pressure control valve 140). The supply 430 is in fluid communication with the filter 710, a pressure port of the lift pressure control valve 740, and a supply hose 422 connected to a supply port of the manifold 700. The tank 440 is in fluid communication with the check valve 720, a tank port of the lift pressure control valve 740, and a return hose 424 connected to a return port of the manifold 700. A control port of the lift pressure control valve 740 is preferably in fluid communication with a lift control hose 426 connected to a lift control port of the manifold 700.

Returning to FIG. 4, the supply hose 422 is in fluid communication with the supply passage 112 of the first downforce controller 100-1. The supply passage 112 of each downforce controller 100 is in fluid communication with the supply passage 112 of an adjacent downforce controller 100 via an inter-row supply hose 412. The distal port of the supply passage 112 of the distal downforce controller (e.g., the right-hand port of the supply passage of the downforce controller 100-4 as illustrated in FIG. 4) is preferably capped with a cap 450.

The return hose 424 is in fluid communication with the return passage 114 of the first downforce controller 100-1. The return passage 114 of each downforce controller 100 is in fluid communication with the return passage 114 of an adjacent downforce controller 100 via an inter-row return hose 414. The distal port of the return passage 114 of the distal downforce controller (e.g., the right-hand port of the return passage of the downforce controller 100-4 as illustrated in FIG. 4) is preferably capped with a cap 450.

The lift control hose 426 is in fluid communication with the lift control passage 116 of the first downforce controller 100-1. The lift control passage 116 of each downforce controller 100 is in fluid communication with the lift control passage 116 of an adjacent downforce controller 100 via an inter-row lift hose 416. The distal port of the lift control passage 116 of the distal downforce controller (e.g., the right-hand port of the lift control passage of the downforce controller 100-4 as illustrated in FIG. 4) is preferably capped with a cap 450.

Operation

In operation of the fluid control system 400 and the electronic control system 300, the monitor 310 preferably receives a downforce signal from each downforce sensor 362. The monitor 310 preferably uses the downforce signal to display the downforce measured at each row unit 200. The monitor 310 preferably uses the downforce signal to select a target net downforce to be applied to each row unit 200 by each downforce controller 100. For example, if the downforce signal for a given row unit 200 is in excess of a threshold, the monitor 310 preferably reduces the target net downforce to be applied by the corresponding controller 100. In other embodiments, the monitor 310 allows the user to simply select a target net downforce for each downforce controller 100. Once the target net downforce is selected for each downforce controller, the monitor 310 preferably sends control signals to each down pressure control valve 140 and the lift pressure control valve 740 such that the net downforce applied by each downforce controller 100 more closely approximates the corresponding target net downforce. In some embodiments, the monitor 310 selects desired control pressures according to the methods disclosed in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application no 61/515,700, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

Downforce Controller-Alternative Embodiments

Turning to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of a downforce controller 500 is illustrated in cross-section. The downforce controller 500 includes a manifold 510 and a conduit 520, allowing incorporation of an individual lift control valve 140-1 to control the pressure in the lift chamber 134. The individual lift pressure control valve 140-1 is preferably substantially similar to the pressure control valve 140. It should be appreciated that the right hand side of the manifold 510 is similar to the manifold 110 except that the lift control passage 116 is preferably omitted.

The manifold 510 preferably includes a manifold body 502, a lift control conduit 520, and a cavity sized to receive the individual lift pressure control valve 140-1. The manifold body 502 preferably includes a supply passage 512 and a return passage 514. Each passage 512, 514 preferably includes a left fitting, a right fitting, and an aperture connecting the left and right fittings. The manifold body 510 preferably includes a control pressure diagnostic passage 518 and a down chamber connection passage 511.

The supply port of the individual lift pressure control valve 140-1 is in fluid communication with the supply passage 512. The return port of the individual lift pressure control valve 140-1 is in fluid communication with the return passage 514. The control port of the individual lift pressure control valve 140-1 is in fluid communication with the control pressure diagnostic passage 518. The control pressure diagnostic passage 518 is in fluid communication with the down chamber connection passage 511. The down chamber connection passage 511 is in fluid communication with the down chamber 136. The control pressure diagnostic passage 518 and the down chamber connection passage 511 collectively comprise a passage placing the control port of the individual lift pressure control valve 140-1 in fluid communication with the down chamber 136. The conduit 520 places the lift control passage 516 in fluid communication with the lift chamber 134. The control pressure diagnostic passage 518 is preferably capped with a cap (not shown) which may be removed in order to place a gauge or other pressure measurement device in fluid communication with the control port of the individual lift pressure control valve 140-1.

Turning to FIG. 6, a modified fluid control system 600 is illustrated installed on four downforce controllers 500 (each installed on a respective row unit 200), the toolbar 14 and the tractor 5. The fluid control system 600 preferably includes the same supply 430 and tank 440 as the fluid control system 500.

The supply passage 112 and return passage 114 of the first downforce controller 500-1 are in fluid communication with the supply 430 and the tank 440, respectively. As with the fluid control system 500, the supply passage 112 and the return passage 114 of each downforce controller 500 are in fluid communication with the supply passage 112 and the return passage 114, respectively, of an adjacent downforce controller 500 via the supply hose 412 and the return hose 414, respectively.

Similarly, the supply passage 512 and return passage 514 of the rightmost downforce controller 500-4 are in fluid communication with the supply 430 and the tank 440, respectively. The supply passage 512 and the return passage 514 of each downforce controller 500 are in fluid communication with the supply passage 512 and the return passage 514, respectively, of an adjacent downforce controller 500 via an inter-row supply hose 612 and an inter-row return hose 614, respectively.

The individual lift control valve 140-1 is preferably in electrical communication with the monitor 130. In operation of the modified fluid control system 600, the monitor 130 is preferably configured to select pressures of both the lift pressure control valve 140-1 and the down pressure control valve 140-1. The monitor 130 is preferably configured to alter the commanded lift pressure and down pressure for each downforce controller 500 based on the downforce signal received from the downforce sensor 362 of the corresponding row unit 200.

In other embodiments of the downforce controller 500, the down chamber connection passage 511 is in fluid communication with the control port of the lift pressure control valve 140-1 via a pilot-operated blocking valve whose pilot pressure port is in fluid communication with the control port of the down pressure control valve 140-1 such that lift pressure is only applied when the down pressure exceeds a threshold. Similarly, in other embodiments of the downforce controller 100, the lift control passage 116 is in fluid communication with the conduit 120 via a pilot-operated blocking valve whose pilot pressure port is in fluid communication with the control port of the down pressure control valve 140 such that lift pressure is only applied when the down pressure exceeds a threshold. In such embodiments, the pilot-operated blocking valve is preferably housed within the manifold body.

In other embodiments of the downforce controller 100 and the downforce controller 500, the down pressure control valve 140 and/or the lift pressure control valve 740 and/or the individual lift pressure control valve 140-1 are replaced with a manually operated pressure reducing-relieving valves such that the user may manually select the lift and/or down pressure applied to each row unit 200.

In still other embodiments of the downforce controller 100, a spring is incorporated in the lift chamber 134 such that the spring is compressed as the rod 170 extends. A bottom of the spring is preferably adjustable from outside the cylinder (e.g., by a lockable sliding mechanism supporting an annular ring on which the spring rests) such that the user is enabled to adjust the compression and reaction force of the spring as the rod extends. In such embodiments, the conduit 120 and lift control passage 116 are preferably omitted.

The foregoing description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, and the general principles and features of the system and methods described herein will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Thus, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments of the apparatus, system and methods described above and illustrated in the drawing figures, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A downforce control system for an agricultural implement, comprising: a first downforce controller including a first pressure control housed in a first manifold, said first manifold coupled to a first actuator having a first chamber and a second chamber, said first pressure control valve in fluid communication with said first chamber; a second downforce controller including a second pressure control valve housed in a second manifold, said second manifold coupled to a second actuator having a third chamber and a fourth chamber, said second pressure control valve in fluid communication with said third chamber; and an inter-row supply hose extending between said first downforce controller and said second downforce controller.
 2. The downforce control system of claim 1, further including a third pressure control valve in fluid communication with said second chamber and said fourth chamber, wherein said third pressure control valve is mounted apart from said first downforce controller and apart from said second downforce controller.
 3. The downforce control system of claim 1, wherein said inter-row supply hose is supported at a first end by said first downforce controller, and wherein said inter-row supply hose is supported at a second end by said second downforce controller.
 4. The downforce control system of claim 3, wherein said inter-row supply hose is in fluid communication with said first pressure control valve and said second pressure control valve.
 5. The downforce control system of claim 4, further including a second hose extending between said first downforce controller and said second downforce controller, wherein said second hose is supported at a first end by said first downforce controller, and wherein said second hose is supported at a second end by said second downforce controller, and wherein said second hose is in fluid communication with said second chamber and said fourth chamber.
 6. The downforce control system of claim 5, wherein said first pressure control valve is supported by said first manifold, and wherein said second pressure control valve is supported by said second manifold.
 7. A downforce controller for an agricultural implement, comprising: a first downforce controller comprising a first pressure control valve, said first downforce controller coupled to a first actuator having a first chamber; a second downforce controller comprising a second pressure control valve, said first downforce controller coupled to a second actuator having a second chamber; an inter-row supply hose extending between and supported by said first downforce controller and said second downforce controller, said inter-row supply hose directing fluid directly from said first pressure control valve to said second pressure control valve.
 8. The downforce controller of claim 7, wherein said first pressure control valve is configured to maintain any one of a continuous range of pressures in said first chamber.
 9. The downforce controller of claim 8, further including: an electronic controller in electrical communication with said first pressure control valve and said second pressure control valve, said electronic controller configured to generate a first signal corresponding to a desired pressure in said first pressure control valve, said electronic controller configured to generate a second signal corresponding to a desired pressure in said second pressure control valve.
 10. The downforce controller of claim 9, further including a first counteracting pressure control passage, wherein said first counteracting pressure control passage is in fluid communication with a counteracting pressure control valve, wherein said first pressure control valve is mounted to a first row unit of the implement, wherein said second pressure control valve is mounted to a second row unit of the implement, and wherein said counteracting pressure control valve is mounted apart from said first row unit and said second row unit.
 11. The downforce controller of claim 10, wherein said first counteracting control passage is in fluid communication with a second counteracting pressure control passage of a second downforce controller, and further including an inter-row counteracting pressure hose extending between the first downforce controller and the second downforce controller, said inter-row counteracting pressure hose being supported by said first downforce controller and said second downforce controller.
 12. The downforce controller of claim 11, wherein said pressure control valve and said counteracting pressure control valve are in electronic communication with an electronic controller, said electronic controller being configured to generate a first signal corresponding to a desired pressure in said first pressure control valve, said electronic controller configured to generate a second signal corresponding to a desired pressure in said counteracting pressure control valve.
 13. The downforce controller of claim 10, wherein said pressure control valve and said counteracting pressure control valve are in electronic communication with an electronic controller, said electronic controller configured to generate a first signal corresponding to a desired pressure in said first pressure control valve, said electronic controller configured to generate a second signal corresponding to a desired pressure in said counteracting pressure control valve.
 14. The downforce controller of claim 7, wherein said first pressure control valve is substantially parallel to said first actuator.
 15. The downforce controller of claim 7, wherein said first pressure control valve comprises a supply port, a return port, and a control port, and wherein said first pressure control valve is configured to establish a desired pressure at said control port.
 16. The downforce controller of claim 7, wherein said first downforce controller comprises a manifold, wherein said manifold includes a supply passage in fluid communication with said supply port, and wherein said manifold includes a return passage in fluid communication with said return port.
 17. The downforce controller of claim 16, wherein said manifold includes a control passage in fluid communication with said control port, said control passage being in fluid communication with said first chamber.
 18. The downforce controller of claim 17, wherein said supply passage is in fluid communication with a second supply passage of a second downforce controller, said first downforce controller being coupled to a first row unit, and said second downforce controller being coupled to a second row unit.
 19. The downforce controller of claim 18, wherein said return passage is in fluid communication with a second return passage of said second downforce controller. 